Refrigerating apparatus



Aug. 18,1936. I H, QH 2,051,604

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed.Aug. 28; 19:50 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY IINV7ENTOR 1 H ATTORNEY Aug. 18, 1936. H. B. HULL 2,051,604

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 28, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR Aug. 18, 1936. H. B. HULL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 28, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 INVENTOR W Y /J a ATTORNEY v Aug. 18, 1936. H. B. HULL 2 051,604

REFR IGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 28, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IQVENTOR M fl ZAL I W1 ATTORNEY Aug. 18, 1936.

H. B. HULL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 28, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTO J I A TQRNEY Aug. 18, 1936. H. B. HULL 2,051,604

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS V Original Fi led Aug. 28, 1930 a Sheets-Sheet 6 ZNVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. I 18, 1936 PATENT OFFICE nnrmcnnA'rmc APPARATUS Harry B. Holt-Dayton, Ohio, assignor. by mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application August 28, 1930, Serial No. 478,486

Renewed October 10, 1932 Claims. (Cl. 62-116) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a cabinet for use with refrigerating apparatus.

One of the objects of this invention is to pro- 5 vide an improved cabinet in which the refrigerating unit is readily accessible for repairs either while in the cabinet or which may be readily removed from the cabinet. for repairs.

According to this invention a cabinet is provided which presents a symmetrical appearance both from the'front and from the side and 'at the same time permits ready access to the machinery while it is in place in the cabinet and also permits the ready removal of the entire refrigerating system from the cabinet without undue dismantling of the cabinetor the necessity of lifting the system to an undue height. This is accomplished by providing integral outer side panels for the cabinet which extends above the platform on which the refrigerating system is supported tothus provide a machinery compartment in cooperation with a removable front upper panel and top.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had'to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: V

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of a cabinet embodying features ofthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical view in cross section of the cabinet shown in Fig. 1 and showing the refrigerating unit installed in the cabinet, the view being taken on the line 2 -2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section of a portion of the cabinet shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a cabinet embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical view in cross section of a modified form of refrigerating apparatus embodying featuresof the invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view in elevation of a portion of the cabinet shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective of a modified form of cabinet.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a cabinet 20 of boxlike structure comprising a food compartment 2| formed by side walls 22 and 23, bottom wall 24 and a partition wall 25. The partition wall forms the top wall of the food compartment and divides the cabinet into a plurality of compartments, namely, the food compartment 2| and .a machinery compartment 28. The side walls of the ing receptacles 54. plied with liquid refrigerant by a refrigerant cabinet 20 include an outer metalcasing 30, in-

sulation 32 interposed between the outer casing and an inner lining 34. The food compartment is provided with an opening 35 closed by door 36.

The opposed side walls 32 are provided with 5 integral extensions formed by the outer metal casing 30. These integral extensions extend above the wall 35 and form side walls for the machinery compartment 28 as shown at 40 and 4|.

-By this irrangement there is provided above the 10 partition wall an opening 42 at the front of the cabinet, an opening 43 at the top of the cabinet, and an opening 44 at the rear of the cabinet. As shown in Fig. 3 the machinery compartment 28 is provided with upright posts provided with 5 threaded plugs 5| in the posts at the front of the cabinet. These posts at the front of the cabinet provide means for securing a removable closure .neans or panel 55 to the cabinet 20'by screws 55 inserted into the plugs 5|. 20

The removable closure means 55 is arranged for closing the opening 42 at the front of the cab-. inet. A movable cover or closure means 59 is provided for closing the opening 43 at the top of the cabinet while the opening '44 at the rear of 25 the cabinet remains open in order to permit the circulation of air into and out of the machinery compartment.

The food compartment 2| is adapted to be cooled by a cooling element or evaporator 60 de- 30 pending from the wall 25. Preferably the evaporator is constructed of sheet metal having duct neans 6| for the circulation of the refrigerant and is adapted to enclose a plurality of ice mak- The evaporator 50 is sup- 35 liquefying element 1|) under the control of an-expansion valve ll. The liquefying element is mounted on the partition wall 25 and includes preferably a motor driven compressor 12, con- 40 denser I4 and a motor driven fan I6 connected. in parallel with the motor driven compressor for cooling the condenser. The compressor withdraws gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator 60 through a flexible vapor conduit 11, compresses 45 the gaseous refrigerant and delivers it to the condenser i4 wherein it' is liquefied and from which it is delivered to a flexible supply conduit connected to the expansion valve 1|. Preferably the pipe I1 extends through a recessed portion 8| in 50 the partition wall 25. A thermostat 82 is connected to the rear of the evaporator 6!! and is -operatively connected with a switch 84 for starting and stopping the motor driven compressor in response to the temperature of the evaporator 50 55 and compartment 2|. Preferably the motor driven compressor includes a motor and compressor unit hermetically sealed in the compressor casing. The switch 84 is also adapted to' cured by bolts 92.

Preferably the refrigerating unit which includes the liquefying element and the cooling element may be removed as a unit from the cabinet 20. This may be accomplished by removing the closure means 55 and by moving the liquefying element through the opening 42 at the front of the cabinet, which opening is large enough to permit the insertion and removal of the liquefying element therethrough. The pipes 11 and 80 can be removed from the cabinet 20 by removing a front panel 94 which may be removably secured to 'the cabinet in any suitable manner. Thus the entire refrigerating unit can be removed as a unit without disconnecting the pipes 11 and 80 by simply removing the closure means 55 then removing the liquefying element through the opening 42 at the front of the cabinet, and then by removing the panel 94 the pipes 11 and 80 can be removed along with the liquefying element and evaporator which is removed through the door opening when the bolts 92 are removed. 'This arrangement is particularly advantageous in.

event it is desired to remove the refrigerant unit to make repairs, in that, it is unnecessary to move the cabinet. Also an inspection of the refrigerating unit can be made at all times without moving the cabinet. I

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a modified form of refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet designated generally by the numeral I00. The cabinet I comprises insulated side walls I02 and I03, a movable top partition wall I04 and bottom wall I05 which form a food compartment I08. The side walls I02 and I03 are formed by an outer metal casing I03, insulation I l0 interposed between said casing and an inner metal lining II2. The top wall comprises a frame Il8'provided with an opening II9 sealed by the movable partition wall I 04 which isprovided with an insulating gasket seal I20 adapted to rest on a recessed portion I2I of the frame I I4. The tartition wall I04 is adapted to carry. a refrigerating'unit comprising in general a cooling element I30 depending from said wall and refrigerant liquefying element I35 mounted on said wall. The opening H9 in the frame H0 is of suificint size so as to permit the insertion and removal of the cooling element I30 therethrough, while the entire refrigerating unit. is removable fromthe cabinet along with the partition wall. The liquefying element I35 includes a compressor I31 which withdraws the gaseous refrigerant from the cooling element I30 through a vapor pipe I40. The compressor compresses the gaseous refrigerant and delivers it to a coiled condenser I wherein it is liquefied and from which it is delivered to a receiver I42. The liquefying element I35 delivers the liquid refrigerant from the receiver I42 to the cooling element I30 through a supply conduit I44 under the control of an expansion valve I45 connected therewith. A thermostat I50 is connected to the rear of the cooling by a removable closure means I10.

a switch I-5I for starting and stopping the motor driven compressor and a fan I53 which is used for cooling the liquid in the condenser MI. The

switch I5I is provided with a control I55 which permits an external adjustment of said switch to vary the operating periods of the compressor. The outer metal casing I09 is provided with integral extensions onthe side walls I03 which extend upwardly above the partition wall I04 thus providing side walls I58 and I59 which serve to form the side wall of a machinery compartment I60. This arrangement provides an opening I62 at the front of the cabinet and above the movable wall I04, an opening I64 at the top of the cabinet and an opening I66 at the rear of the cabinet. The openings I62 and. I64 are adapted to be closed As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the side walls I58 and I59 are provided with-an arcuate portion I1I conforming substantially to the curvature of the coiled condenser I 4| and a relatively low horizontal portion I12 at the front of the cabinet. means I 'is shaped to conform to the shape of the side walls I58 and I59. By the present arrangement inspection of and repairs on the refrigerating unitmay be easily made and if desired the entire refrigerating unit may be removed as a unit by simply removing the removable closure means I 10 and moving the partition wall I04 upwardly until the lowermost portion of the cooling element I30 is above the frame The closure member'I I8 and then move the partition wall I04 which carries the refrigerating unit to the front of the cabinet to thus remove said unit from the cabinet.

Fig. '1 is a modification of the cabinet shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As shown the cabinet 200 is provided with integrally formed extensions extending above a top wall 20I of a food compartment 202.

structed substantially like the cabinet shown in- Figs. 1 and 2. Thus the cabinet 225 is provided with an inner lining 221 and an outer metal casing 229. Insulation is interposed between the lining 221 and casing 229 which lining, casing and insulation form the side walls of a food compartment 23I. In this modification the top wall of the cabinet comprises a frame 235 provided with an opening 236, which opening is of sumcient size to permit the insertion and removal of the cooling, element for cooling the compartment 23I. The outer metal casing 229 is provided with integral extensions which extend above the frame 235 thus forming side walls 240 and 24I of a machinery compartment. This arrangement provides an opening 242 at the front of the cabinet and opening 244 atthe top of the cabinet and an opening 246 at the rear of the cabinet. In this particular embodiment the cabinet 225 is provided with an integrally formed closure means 250 comprising a vertical portion 252 for closing the opening 242 and a horizontal portion 253for closing the top opening 244. The closure means 250 may be secured to the cabinet in any suitable manner preferably by screws inserted through openings 255 provided in said closure wall. Preferably a cooling element as shown in Fig. 5 may be used in the cabinet 225. Any suitable liquefying element may be used in the cabinet 225, and for instance, the liquefying element 210 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or'the lique fying element of the type shown in Fig. 5. This arrangement permits inspection of and repairs to be made on the refrigerating unit from the front unit from the cabinet all that is necessary is to remove the closure means 250 from the cabinet and then raise the partition wall upwardly until the lowermost portion of the cooling element is above the frame 235 and then move the unit and wall from the cabinet through the opening 242 atthe front of the cabinet. Thus the refrigerating unit can be removed from the cabinet without removing said cabinet and this may be accomplished with minimum' movement of said unit in view of the opening 222 at the front of said cabinet.

From the foregoing it will be noted that I have provided a refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet which houses a refrigerating unit andhave arranged said refrigerating unit in a readily accessible manner for inspection thereof or for making repairs thereon either in the cabinet or said unit may be readily removed therefrom for. making any repairs without the necessity of moving the cabinet. It will also be noted that the unit is either inserted into the cabinet from the front thereof or inserted into the cabinet with a minimum upward movement of said unit. Furthermore by providing integrally formed side walls on the cabinet the, symmetrical appearance of the cabinet is retained.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is .to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of 'the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows: a

1. Refrigerating apparatus comprisingin combination a cabinet provided with side walls forming a food compartment and a door opening in one side wall thereof leading to said compartment, a partition wall forming the top of said food compartment, opposed side walls of said cabinet extending above said wall providing an opening thereabove at the front, rear and top, of the cabinet, and removable closure means for compartment.

said opening at the front-and top of said cabinet.

2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising-in combination a cabinet provided with side walls form'- ing a food compartment and adoor opening in one side wall thereof leading to said compartment,

a partition wall forming the top of said food compartment,-opposed side wallsof said cabinet extending above said'wall providing'an opening thereabove' at the frontand top of said cabinet,

and removable closure means for'said opening at the front and top-of said cabinet.

3. Refrigerating apparatus-comprising in combination a cabinetprovided with side walls form-- ing a food compartment, the top of said food-compartment comprising a frame provided with an of the cabinet and if it is desired to remove said opening, a movable wall adapted to seal said ing said elements, opposed sides of saidcabinet extending above said frame and,providing an opening thereabove" at the front, top and rear ofsaid cabinet,..re'movable closure means for the opening at the front and top of said cabinet, said opposed sides and removable closure means enclosing said liquefyingelement. said opening at opening, a refrigerating unit carried by said movable wall, said unit comprising-acooling element depending from said wall and insertable into and the front of the cabinet being of suflicient width topermit the removal of said unit therethrough. 4. A refrigerator cabinet comprising an innerliner forming the sidewalls of a food 'co'mpart-' ment, insulation surrounding the inner liner, an

outer sheet metal casing surrounding the insulation, a plurality of wall portions of the outer casing'projecting beyond the otherwall portions,

movable wall portions cooperating with the err-J tendin portions of the outer metal casing to form an: enclosure in conjunction with a wallet the food compartment, said movable'wall portions forming two complete wallporti ons of the machinery compartment. 5. A refrigerator cabinctcomprising an inner liner. forming the'sidewalls of a food compartment, insulation surrounding the inner liner, an

outer sheet metal casing surrounding the insulation, a plurality of wall portions of the outer casing projecting beyond the other wall portions, movable wall portions cooperating with the e'xtending portions of the outer metal casing to form an enclosure in conjunction with a wall of the food compartment, said movable wall portions being a rigid unitary structure forming two adjacent complete wall portions of-the machinery HARRY 3.1mm.- 

